Test plug



Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,183

w. D. STOUGHTCN' TEST PLUG Filed Dec. 50, 1926 W swig/zap I mm 3mm 1 Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

I UNITEDSTATES WILLIAM n. srovonlron", or NEWARK, OHIQ.

' *interfitting sections, the

1,690,183 PATENT TEST PLUG.

Application filed December 30, 1926. Serial No. 158,023.

This inventionrelatesto improvements in test plugs especially adapted for use'in conneotion with high pressure fluid conduit, and has for an object to provide a plug which may bereadily inserted intowor removed from a conduit while the latter is carrying a fluid under pressure sons to permit of the testing of the fluid in order, for example, to ascerstain the pressure of the fluidor for the purposeof making other tests relative to its character and condition The invention is porticularlyapplicable when used in oil. or gas well systemsto permit of the application of recording instruments to said systems i for data obtaining purposes.

In accordancewith thepresent invention there is provided a test plug consisting of two rimary section of which being formed for irect-insertion into a conduit; containing a fluid, either liquid or gas, under relatively high pressures, and is provided; with a longitudinally extending axial bore, in which isthreadedly positioned the removable secondary sec'tion oi the plug,

-' provision beingmade in-the' construction of the plug to allow forithe escape of the fluid, immediately adjacent the plug, during the process of removing said. secondary section in order that before the latter has been coni- M pletely removed the fluid pressure thereon will have been; sufi ciently reduced so astow permit of the convenient and :complete removal of the secondarysection without inconyenience or injury to the operator.'

Anotherrolnectof the invention resides in forming the innerend of the secondary section of the plug present a reduced area to the internal fluid pressure, to the end of se curing convenien e in tating the condary ,partof the splug when eflecting lts removal [from the threaded, part of the 1, main portion Further objects of the invention i a plug of the charaeterfset forth of extremely simple and stu v cons ruct n,and whe'rei i v unimproved gasket constructionis provi ed 5 between the meeting faces of shoulde s of t y e :Pr m rr nd ccndcr se i ns. pit Plug wwhich serve to pre entse ge orgund e-scape. cf heflnid throu h t 4 1183 1 lI VfilTlt1lh]GODSiEtS inthegnoveldentures of secondary section 4. The primary section cOIIlPI'lSQS preferably a strongly constructed tion .3-v f o n the re ded 'fic ket- 6-" ejointi j qf the new: p iii qbie s n ims .ni ap ear s thc' e i i-prc eeds th arrangements of-parts hereinafter to be. fully described and ai s.- i c In the'accompanying drawing: a Figure l isa side elevation of the improved testing plug comprising the present invention and illustratingits position in an associated conduit or fluid line,

Figure 2 is 'anenlarged vertical sectional View taken through the plug the secondary section of the plug being shown slightly sep arated from the primary section, v Figure 3 is a transverse horizontal pointed out in the appended sec,-

itional view taken through the plug on theline of the secondof whiehlthe fiow of the fluid through the mes may be gul te a e tr if desired to relat vely localized portions of the condult. i U Th p' t ns pl pr ing the present invention; is formed to include a mainonprimary section "3 and aren ovable steel having its lower; end exteriorly threaded asat 5 in order that the primary s ction may be received wit in a hreaded socket 6 provided in collar 7 forming: apart. .of the conduit 1. v E xteriorly, abovehtll threads :5, the Section 3 includes a plain Oi 7 cular portion:'8,; and above this portion -the ec' cn tcrmiea't s i l g y r du v The section 3 is fbm dm 'iric -lude an axial sh ped. to mp i e relati ly; n a ged chamber 10, which. isinopen communication multis ided fp i 'tici fi which perm sof l iloo appl cation); a- Wrencho-rother tool so as-to xf lh ate th insertions or removal bfthe secabo're o f varying proportions, or diameter. i The lower portion of th s bore or passa gegis i t ein e iq fft c n u t a dtermt w s spce lmss bsenmllr ce In 11. Extending axially through the section 3 above the wall 11 is a reduced port 12, which establishes communication between the chamber 10 and a diametrically larger threaded bore 13. The side of the bore 13 is brovided with a vertically extending vent slot 14. This slot and the upper end of the bore 13 terminate in a larger gasket receiving pocket 15, formed in the top of the section 3.

The secondary section 4 of the plug includes an enlarged circular body 16 corresponding in diameter to that of the pocket 15, and projecting downwardly and integrally from the body 16 is a threaded shank 17, which is threadedly received in the bore 13 of the primary section and, therefore, corresponds in diameter to the same. The extreme inner or lower end of the shank 17 terminates in a diametrically reduced stem 18, which fits snugly within the port 12. Surrounding the stem 18 and engaging with the shoulder 19 formed at the point of juncture of the shank 17 and the stem 18 is a gasket 20 which is adapted to engage with the annular seat 21 provided at the bottom of the bore 13. Also, surrounding the shank 17 immediately below the body 16 is a second gasket 21, which is adapted to be received within the pocket 15 and to engage tightly with the seat constituting the bottom of said pocket when the plug sections are operatively assembled. Above the body 16 the secondary section of the plug is formed to include a poly onal head 23, formed to admit of the application of a wrench or other tool to the secondary part of the plug so as to operatively bind or remove the same into and from engagement with the main section of the plug It will be seen that when the secondary section of the plug has been applied to the primary section so as to close the axial bore of the latter, the gaskets 20 and 21 will be firmly seated in engagement with their respective seats 21 and \Vhen the parts of the plug are thus assembled it will be seen that there is provided by the spaced gasket :1 double seal which serves effectively to prevent escape of the confined fluid. Again, due to the provision of the reducedstem 18 and the relatively restricted proportionsof the port 12 there is exposed to the internal fluid pressure but a very small area of the secondary plug, or an area corresponding to the diameter of the stem 18. This relieves the gasket 20 of surface bearing pressure and secures facility in initiating the unscrewing movement of the secondary section. When it is desired to secure a readmg of the fluid pressures within the conduit, where the plug is used, it is neces sary first to unscrew the secondary sections. When this operation has been carried on to an extent which has permitted the secondary section to be elevated to a point where the gasket 20 is slightly above the bottom of the slot 14, it will be seen that the internal pressures within the conduit permit the confined fluid to escape through the port 12, the bore 13 and the slot 1i to the atmosphere, the valve 2, of course, being closed to limit the cscaping fluid to a localized portion of the conduit. This operation enables the confined fluids to escape before the secondary sections have been completely removed from the primary sections so that the secondary sections may he removed without difiiculty and more particularly without injury to the operator.

Following the removal of the secondary section of the plus: there is inserted in the bore 13 a threaded fixture 24, which is formed to include a body 25, a downwardly extending threaded shank 26 and an upwardly extending portion 27 which terminate in a threaded end 28. A valve body 29 is connected with the end 28 and also removably carries a recording instrument 30 which in this instance may be in the nature of a pressure gauge. Following the connection of the gauge, the valves 2 are opened so as to obtain a reading of the pressures. after which the valves are again closed, the fixture 2-1 removed from the primary section of the plug, with the safety and convenience provided by the slot 14:, and the secondary section is then restored to its original feeding position in connection with the primary section 3. The valves 2 may then be opened and normal operation resumed. The present invention thus provides a plug structure of simple. durable and economical form which may be used conveniently and safely in fluid pressure systems and one wherein mechanical complications are reduced to a minimum when the functions of the structure are taken into consideration.

hat is claimed is:

1. A plug structure of the character set forth comprising separal'ile primary and sec ondary sections, said primary section being formed to include an axially disposed bore threaded for at least a part of its length and having its inner end terminated in a reduced port, and the upper end terminating in an enlarged pocket formed in the top of said primary section, there being a vent passage extending between a point intermediate ot the length of said bore and said pocket, said secondary section comprising an enlarged head adapted to he received within said pocket and terminating in an inwardly extending threaded shank arranged to be removably positioned within said bore, the inner end of said shank terminating in a reduced stem arranged to occupy said port when the sections of the plug are assembled, a gasket surrounding said stem sealing the joint between said port and said bore, and a gasket surrounding the shank and located below the head of the secondary section for sealing the upper part of said bore and said vent.

2. A plug structure of the character set forth comprising separable primary and secondary sections, said primary section being formed to include an axially disposed bore threaded for at least a part of its length and haying its inner end terminating in a reduced 5 port, said primary section being further formed with an upper and a lower seat located at each end of said bore, there being a vent passage between a point intermediate of the length of said bore and terminating in the 1' upper seat, said secondary section comprising an enlarged headterminating in an inwardly extending threaded shank arranged to be removably positioned Within said bore, a gasket attached to the lower end of said shank and sealing the joint between said port and said bore, and a gasket surrounding the upper end of said shank and located below the head of WILLIAM D. STOUGHTON. 

